Reactivity
Enjoy a Good As Gold transition from Reactive Rover to Calm Canine
Living with a reactive dog is stressful.
It’s embarrassing. It’s inconvenient. And sometimes it’s even frightening.
We specialize in treating reactivity, or dogs who bark, lunge, and growl at triggers like other dogs, people, small animals, or wheeled objects.
We can help put an end to:
- Hiding behind parked cars to let dogs or people pass
- Constantly changing direction to avoid triggers
- Walking at inconvenient hours to avoid incident
- Skipping your dog walks altogether due to the stress
- Embarrassment when friends and neighbours visit
Choose from our supportive, effective classes and private training programs to turn your reactive rover into a Calm Canine.
Either way, our goal is the same: Get you and your dog enjoying calm walks, visits, and just life in general.
Calm Canines training classes
Calm Canines Class
This fun, supportive class is designed to get you and your dog enjoying some much needed calm, whether that’s on your walks, at home, in your yard, or wherever your dog’s reactivity flares. We take a two-path approach: First, we use positive reinforcement operant conditioning techniques to teach your dog to focus on you instead of the things he reacts to. Second, we use positive classical conditioning techniques to systematically teach your dog to feel ho-hum about his reactivity triggers. (Oh, that dog or squirrel or skateboarder? Yawn!) The end result? By week 7 of class, we’ll be taking a fun group walk in Fish Creek Provincial Park with your Calm Canine focused by your side!
Class details
- 7 weeks of classes on Wednesdays (the first 3 classes are held over Zoom and the next 4 in-person classes are held at Sundance Animal Hospital)
- Access to online learning platform with handouts and videos to facilitate learning
- Upcoming sessions: January 10
- $450 (inc. GST)
*Please note: there will be no make up classes if you miss a class
Calm Canines On The Town
Once you experience the field trip at the end of Calm Canines class, you’ll want more. Our Calm Canines On The Town class provides weekly opportunities for you and your dog to practice your new skills in a safe, supportive group environment, guided by one of our skilled instructors. Your dog’s ability to relax and focus on you around other dogs, people, small animals, and wheeled objects will continue to grow, as will your comfort and confidence. Plus we have an awful lot of fun as we rotate our walks through various Calgary parks.
Drop-In Class Upcoming Dates
- Saturday, December 9 @ 2:00 p.m – Fish Creek Park – Hull’s Wood
- $45 / Drop-In Session
*Please note: You must be a Calm Canines class graduate to enroll in this course, or have completed a Calm Canines private training program.
Class details
- 4 weeks of class on Mondays rotating between Fish Creek Park and Confederation Park
- Upcoming session: TBA
- $190 (inc. GST)
*Please note: You must be a Calm Canines class graduate, or have completed a Calm Canines private training program to enroll in this course.
*Please note: there will be no make up classes if you miss a class
Calm Canines Agility Class
One of the most tragic things about reactivity dog is how many activities reactive dogs and their people miss out on. Our Calm Canines Agility class gives you and your dog the chance to have fun together learning the country’s most popular dog sport in a supportive environment. You’ll join fellow Calm Canines grads who understand what it’s like to live with a reactive dog, and be guided by our experienced instructor. The best part? While you and your dog have a blast, you continue to build your dog’s ability to calmly focus on you in busy environments.
Class details
- 6 weeks of classes held on Tuesdays at Wet Creek Stables west of Balzac
- Beginner (6:30pm), Intermediate (7:30pm) and Advanced (8:30pm) class levels available
- Next session: January 9, 2024
- $300 (inc. GST)
*Please note: You must be a Calm Canines class graduate, or have completed a Calm Canines private training program (see below), to enroll in this course.
*Please note: there will be no make up classes if you miss a class.
Calm Canines private training
No time for class? Or maybe your dog’s behaviour has reached a point where personalized support feels more comfortable? It may be time to work one-on-one with our experienced trainers.
Private Calm Canines coaching
After an initial consult, you and your dedicated trainer will meet once per week for a minimum of 4 weeks to work with your dog and assign your weekly training homework. You’ll learn how to train your dog to focus on you with her triggers in site, whether at home or on walks. You’ll also learn a systematic training protocol to help your dog learn to feel less passionate about the things that trigger her. After all, if she’s no longer upset or hyper-interested, there’s no longer any reason for all the barking and lunging frenzy.
- Initial Assessment & Planning Consult: $200 + GST
- 4 session training program: $720 + GST
- 8 session training program: $1400 + GST
Contact us or call 587.579.5954 to schedule your Initial Consult.
*Sessions are valid for 6 months after first consult
*Due to the high demand for private dog training, our trainers focus primarily on neighbourhoods in South Calgary. If you are out of the service area, our trainer may recommend virtual training.
Private Calm Canines Gold program* (recommended)
If you’re looking for faster results with less work, we recommend letting one of our trainers train your dog for you. After an initial consult, our trainer will work with your dog several times each week in real-life settings like your home, neighbourhood, and local parks—wherever your dog’s reactivity erupts. You’re welcome to watch the process, or feel free to go about your regular daily obligations. At the end of each week your trainer will transfer your dog’s progress to you during empowering real-life training sessions.
- Initial Assessment & Planning Consult: $200 + GST
- 3 session training program: TBA
*Please note that our Gold program is available only in these Calgary neighborhoods: Auburn Bay, Chaparral, Cooperfield, Cranston, Douglasdale/Glen, Legacy, Mahogany, McKenzie Lake, McKenzie Towne, Midnapore, New Brighton, Seton, Sundance, and Walden.Is your puppy on the way? Call now to reserve her spot, as we take only a small number of puppies at a time.
Contact us or call 587.579.5954 to schedule your Initial Consult.
*Sessions are valid for 6 months after first consult
Meet your trainer
Barbara Walmer, CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, KPA CTP, ACDBC
Barbara has made treating leash reactivity a priority since her early days as Department Head of Behaviour for Calgary Humane Society. Watching its devastation on dog owners and families, and witnessing the shelter full of leash reactive dogs who would otherwise make perfect family dogs, she became—and remains—passionate about helping dedicated owners and their dogs resolve this all-too-common urban behaviour issue.
